# Lady Yu-Keng — With the Empress Dowager of China character guide

> Lady Yu-Keng in With the Empress Dowager of China by Katharine A. Carl.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Ladies Yu-Keng, Ladies Yu-Keng, the Yu-Kengs

**First appearance:** 0003-i-my-presentation-and-first-day-at-the-chinese-court

## Snapshot

A Manchu lady of the court whose family moves within the Empress Dowager's intimate orbit, part of the world the painter must learn to read.

## Who they are

The Yu-Kengs belong to the small circle of Manchu women who attend the Empress, share her pastimes, and absorb her moods without ever contradicting her. Their standing depends on her favor, distributed with a care that keeps any one lady from gaining supremacy. To the narrator, they are both guides and gauges, their deference and ease revealing how the court's affections actually run beneath its ceremonies.

## Relationships

### [Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/characters/empress_dowager_tze_hsi)

_professional_

Lady Yu-Keng serves as the Empress Dowager's lady-in-waiting and interpreter, enjoying a close but formal relationship.

### [Prince Ch'un](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/characters/prince_chun)

_professional_

They interact as court officials, with Lady Yu-Keng often relaying messages and coordinating with Prince Ch'un on imperial matters.

### [Emperor Kwang-Hsu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/characters/emperor_kwang_hsu)

_professional_

Lady Yu-Keng serves as a translator and intermediary for the Emperor, but he remains distant and formal with her.

## In the story

### [With the Empress Dowager of China](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/with-the-empress-dowager-of-china)

A lady of the court who assists the author and provides guidance on palace etiquette and customs.

### [I: My Presentation and First Day at the Chinese Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/i-my-presentation-and-first-day-at-the-chinese-court)

One of the Ladies Yu-Keng, who serves as interpreter and a link between the visitors and the palace.

### [II: Personal Appearance of Her Majesty—A Chinese Repast—Boating](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/ii-personal-appearance-of-her-majesty-a-chinese-repast-boating)

Appointed by Her Majesty to keep Carl company during meals; acts as interpreter.

### [VI: Continuation of the Portrait—Her Majesty’s Dogs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/vi-continuation-of-the-portrait-her-majesty-s-dogs)

Part of the court entourage, but not individually featured.

### [Peking—The Sea Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/x-peking-the-sea-palace)

Joins Carl at the Hsien-Liang-Hsu and accompanies her to the Sea Palace.

### [XVIII: The Festival of the Harvest Moon—Work on the Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xviii-the-festival-of-the-harvest-moon-work-on-the-portrait)

The Ladies Yu-Keng are mentioned as part of the court, dining in Her Majesty's loge and participating in the ceremony.

### [XIX: A Garden Party at the Summer Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xix-a-garden-party-at-the-summer-palace)

The elder Miss Yu acts as the Empress Dowager's interpreter during the presentations.

### [XX: I Begin a Second Portrait of Her Majesty—The Palace Painters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xx-i-begin-a-second-portrait-of-her-majesty-the-palace-painters)

Her daughters play the piano and waltz for the Empress Dowager in the Great Audience Hall.

### [XXV: Peking—Beginning the Portrait for St. Louis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxv-peking-beginning-the-portrait-for-st-louis)

Assists by translating Carl's request about hand positioning to the Empress Dowager.

### [XXVIII: Some Winter Days at the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxviii-some-winter-days-at-the-palace)

Informs the Empress Dowager of Carl's reason for wearing black.

### [XXXII: The Chinese New Year—Official Audience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxxii-the-chinese-new-year-official-audience)

Mentioned as one of the ladies of the legation present at the official audience.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/characters/lady_yu_keng
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/characters